Apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers



Dec, 26, 1933. F. H. s. s'rELzER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTUBING CIGARFILLERS Filed April 19. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec., 26, 1933. F. H. B.sTELzl-:R 1,941,060

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CIGAR FILLERS Filed April 19. 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 nys `lillernis used consisting-of more orV .cu't'I stripsof tobacco.

Numerous methods ythe tobacco, generally already separated and be- Vforeit comes into the actual ller press is in- 'damaged or destroyed byPatented Deefze, 1933 APPARATUS FOR Franz. Heinrich Benno many, assignorto maschinen-Fabrik,

Germany Application April 19,

in Germany a tobacco less finely In all casesV the problem is toseparate a strictly definite portion from the supply of filler tobaccoand work it into a filler. have been'prop'osed in which In themanufacture of cigar llers variably subjected to forcible operations.

-These operations are extremely harmful to the condition of the lfillertobacco in the filler. It is very important -that the sensitive stripsof filler unimpaired and not fracture, crumbling,

tobacco should be kept vand the like.

By means of to allow the cut ller tobacco ly, without the ,employment ofany Vforcible measures, from the supply to the pressing position. In thecourse of this operation the tobacco 'isl exactly portioned. Forv thispurpose the tobacco inserted loosely `in av supplyA vessel, is `passedcontinuously in mass to a collector vessel vrby means ofv aV stirringdevice or the like, and fromvthe collector vessel one portion of tobaccoafter the other-is lremoved by means of a measuring receptacle.

A shaping channel lwith "a shaker is provided, in which the tobacco ispoured loosely and then pressed into the shape of a ller.

In this manner the filler 'tobacco is not subjected to the slighteststress by pressure, com- "pressionor the like on its passage fromv thesup- Iply to the ller press,'it does not come into any contact whateverwith mechanical separators in the form of channel pushers, rotatingchambers, "or the like,'but vit alwaysremains in loose con- "dition"until the moment when itis formed in the filler press. f

It is advantageous if to the sack-like container with the measuring`receptacle according to my-copending applicathe material, which `is fedtion'Sei-ial No.v 415,295, is deposited on a rcircular Aor disc-shapedsurface and thrust towardsan 'outlet in the disc by scraper platesextending radially over `the stationaryr disc surface. The `materialpasses through the outlets into the sack; itis obvious that the movementof the :scraper must be suitably correlated to the movementsV of themeasuring receptacle.

' 'For instance`,'the radial scraper plates may be Adriven by a ratchetand pawl mechanism which vis actuated ,by the driving mechanism ofthesuction head, which `removes therefrom the portion of materialpresented vby the measuring. receptacle. This suction head must. bebrought -rod is placed on a support the present invention it ispossible' to pass quite loosebacco from the sack-like supply vesselaccording MANUFACTURING CIGAR FILLERS l c Stelzen', Dresden, Ger-Universelle Cigaretten- J. C. Muller & Co., Dresden,

1932,'seria1 No. 606,239, and

May 15, V1931 claims. (c1. isi-39) each timerv to the lled measuringreceptacle so that it can remove the tobacco portion and then carry outa movement in order 'to deposit the portion at another place.

The disc on which the material is placed is preferably the slantingbottom portion surrounding a circular groove, whilst at the tobaccoout-` let there is also provided a shaker rod or the likev which ensuresthe uniform ow of the tobacco over the appropriate ledge of the outlet.Here again the shaking movement can be derived from the movement of thesuction head in that the Y which is drawn by a spring against a camconnected with the suction head.

In order to ensure tacle always removes that theA measuring recepanuniform 'amount of toto my copending application SerialNo, 415,295, thesack-like supply vessel is preferably provided with beating memberswhich, position of the measuring receptacle is reached, strike thevoutside of the fabric wall ofthe sup.- ply vessel. yThus the wall oftobacco `resting against the fabric wall of the container is driventowards the middle, so that above the measuringreceptacle which is inits lowest position, the supply of tobacco is in an uniform layer.Further ritis preferable to arrange for the beaters tovbe lactuatedbythe downwardly moving measuring receptacle in order thus to producethe beater action at the right moment vby positive' means. .In thisarrangement the beaters may consist of tongues attachedto bell cranklevers, so that, when the measuring receptacle moves downwards, stops orthelike fitted thereto strike the free ends of the Ybell when the lowesty Aso on each occasion,

crank lever and thus causethe tongues to swing y n ing movement, whichhelps the tobaccov arriving above the layer in the vessel, to be drivenpar.- tially backby the blows of the beater outwardsv over the wall ofthe vessel. If, on the other' hand, only the central'part of the bottomof the -vessel `is -under suction, then there is formed here a core oftobacco which assumes a kind ofconical form and, as experiencehasfshown, assists inthe to the action of suction layer oftobaccofrom'being I arrangementl of the rest of Vthe tobacco. It hasYaway portion 1,

been found that the particles of tobacco by means of the core inconjunction with the walls of the bottom of the vessel, under the blowsof the shaker, are arranged in a denite manner controlled from themiddle of the vessel and so remove "the tendency of the particles oncefixed from springing out of the measuring receptacle. The result is thata constantly uniform yamount of tobacco is collected in uniformthickness in the measuring receptacle. Y l

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in whichz- Fig. 1is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a plan, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views.

In the funnel-shaped container 1 which is attached to the base plate 2,there is arranged a cylinder 3 which is attached to the axle 4. Thelatter is mounted in a bearing 5 which is attached to the base plate 2.On the axle 4 is vmounted a-ratchet wheel 6 with which a pawl 7 engages.The latter is mounted on a pivot 8 which'is attached to the lever 9. Thelatter is mounted on a collar on the bearing 5; the lever 9ispivotally-connected at 9 with a link 10 the other -side of which isconnected by a pin 11 to the disc V23 (for the sake of clarity the lever-9 is shown extended in Fig. l). To the cylinder 3 are attachedtriangular plates 12 which divide the funnel-shaped space into severalequal parts, `in the present example into three parts. The funnel-shapedcontainer 1 is formed with a cut Y the discharge edge :r of which isprovided with a yrod 13. The latter isadapted to pivot about the pin 14of the support 18, and under the inuenceof a spring 17 which tends todraw the rod 173 constantly towards a pin 16 in a slot 15 and fixed inthe support 18. The latter is lpivotally mounted on a bolt-18ct, By theYoutward swinging movement of the suction fhead 20'towards the container1,as indicated in full linesthe nger- 19 comes into contact with "27 isprovided with the 4support 18 so that therodrlrcomes into Contact withthek tobacco frombelow and proinote's an uniform deposition of vthetobacco. 'The'suction head is connected by a hollow arm 121 with anaxle22n 4formed by a pipe or the like. On' this axle 22 there is alsomounted a disc23 to which the pin 11 is attached. Y

,'fInthe container 24, by means of the ring 25, there'is secured a cloth26,` the outer side -of which is attached to the measuring receptacle 27va'ndser'vesas la collecting vessel (cf. U. S. Patent Serial No.415,295). The measuring receptacle a perforated bottom 28 to which isAconnected a suction piping consisting `of"a rubber pipe 29. rljhevertically displaceable. Y rod '30 is provided.- with a spring wedge,provided in the bushing 31 of the'bearing 31", engages. ,The bushing 31is turned to and fro by the crank'disc 31",. On 'the rod 30 there ismounted a sleeve 33Vwhich is provided with flanges in which a roller 34of a rocker lever 35 engages. The rocker lever is v-rnounted'at 36 onthe bracket 32 and is provided 'witha slot guide35. In this slot guide35T there engagesa crank-pin 37;v `which is' provided witha-roller,-andwhich is mounted on a-crank disc 38. 'Ilhclatter is mountedonfa shaft 39 which lis Yconnected with. `a *driving mechanism not shownint-he drawings. The Y"shaft 39 imparts he bottom part of the a-groove30 in which re'cted funnel-shaped members 4l'.

,within the receptacle.

"in the receptacle Y27 and drawn towards" in known manner a periodicalswinging movement to the axle 22.

At the right end position of the suction head 20 indicated by dottedlines in Figs. 1 and 2, is arranged a funnel 40, the mouth vof Vwhich isprovided with a channel 41 `ol vU-shaped crosssection and bent into asemi-circle. Both sides of this channel 4l end in two downwardly di-Under each ofthe-members141" -there is arranged a pressure chamber 42 inwhich, by means of a plunger 43, the tobacco ller is formed, The channel41 is providedv with a plate-45 which is mounted on an arm 46. VThelatter is mounted on an axle 47, which by means of `a cam 47' is swungperiodically to and `fro in such manner that the tobacco which :passesthrough the funnel into `the 41 is fed alternately to the two pressurechannels42 by the plate 45.

AThe apparatus operates manner.

The tobacco insertedfby hand,y conveyer belts or the like into thefunnel-shaped container f1, is, by means of the plates or`wings12-which:are set into slow rotation by thelink 10 vand the pawl 7, passedtowards-thecut-awayportion11 through which it .falls down ontothe'eloth-26. The rod 13 Which'is swung up anddownibythe suction head20, ensures that the tobacco VAiiows down uniformly Ythrough theoutlet 1. supply of tobacco Vheld inthe cloth 26 is-correin thefollowing spondingly.supplemented on its removalby-the Thus. the l alsotakes place during continuous turning to Y and fro the parts of tobaccoof the receptacle are shaken downfand returned to the-supply of tobaccointhe cloth 26..;The suction action exerted on-thevreceptacle 27 by thesuction piping Y29 ensuresv an easy anchoing of a suitable quantity ofIt should be noted that the suction action producedv by the pipe 29isonly sullicient to ensure that `the tobacco'held in the receptacle isincompact and loose,-and`that the formationof lumps, which might easilyprevent uniform separation, is prevented. f Y.

YAs already mentioned, the rotation of the plates 12 in the container 1`is so arranged that lying Y over the edge `tobacco threads l on alloccasions only so much tobaccois deliv- Y ered to the cloth asisremovedby-the suction head. By exact regulation of ,the f movement whichis transmitted by the pawl 7 to the ratchet wheel 6, this can be donewith a certain amount of accuracy. However, in order tov'keep the supplyinthe cloth uniform in all casesjthecloth- 26 is provided with anropening 26"Y through which in all cases the tobacco slides down over theslideway 49 into a collecting vessel 50, `whenV too much is deliveredinto the cloth 26 from the container l.

As soon as the measuring receptacle 27 arrives upper position (that isthe-positionindi cated in'full lines -in Fig. l) the suction head 20which is then in the position indicatedby dot- A the` perforated surface20 of the suction head 20. "It is obvious ted lines in Fig. l, issubjectedto suction. ,The

tobacco istherebyremoved from the measuring lati? Ill:

pressure action. Whilst the measuring receptacle 27 then moves downwardsin order to be filled again, the suction head 20` is moved into theright-hand position indicated by Ydotted lines in Fig. l. vDuring thismovement the suction head is passed yover' a rotating raking roller 44which removes thev protruding threads of tobaccov from the suction head20. Then the suction action of the suctionhead`20 is interruptedfsothatthe tobacco can be passed throughthe funnel 40 into the channel 41. Fromthe latter the tobacco, still `in loose condition,` passes into the appropriate pressing channel 42.- Then the tobacco first comes intocontact with an oscillating ap 48 which acts` uponthe individual tobaccostrips in such manner: that they come into position substantiallyrtransversely'to the Vlongitudinal direction of the pressure channely 42.

In` all the arrangements described above importance has been attachedtothe fact that the tobacco is always in aloose and incompact condition..Only upon arrivallin the pressure channel 42-itself is the portion oftobacco compressed into .a tobacco-filling. Y

Forthe'sake of convenience, as shown in Fig. 3, the sack-shaped supplycontainer 26'may be provided with brackets 45on which bell crank levers4'7 are pivoted at 46. Whereas one ,end of each bell crank lever extendsbeneath the boss 27 of the measuring receptacle 27, the other ends ofthe bell crank levers are provided with beaters in the form of tongues48. .'When the measuring receptacle 27. moves downwards, the boss 27 ofthe measuring'receptacle i 27 comes into contact with the free ends ofthe bell crank levers 47, whereby the tongues 48 nxed thereto beatagainst the cloth wall 26. When the measuring receptacle moves upwardsthe bell crank leversrest against stops/49 which are provided on thebrackets 45. In order to be Vable to adjust the amplitudeof theoscillation of the tongues 45?v and therefore their beating action,adjusting screws 49 are provided on the stops 49. By the beating of thetongues 48 against the cloth wall 26 the annular Wall of tobacco formedtherein on lthe downward movement of the measuring receptacle isdemolished.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the entire baseofthe measuring receptacle is perforated. It is, however, preferable toinsert in the measuring receptacle 2'7-as shown in Fig. 4-a curvedbottom`50, the central portion 50 of this being provided with an openingVwhich is connected with a junction piece 51 for bacco from said supplycontainer to said collector and means for compressing said tobaccoremoved from said collector into the shape of a ller.

2. An: apparatus'for manufacturing cigarV fill--Y ers comprising Vasupply container for loose tobacco, a loosetobacco collector, means forremoving from said collector predetermined i amounts of loose tobacco,rotary means in said supplyc'ontainer forfeeding loose tobacco from saidsupplyY predetermined amounts of loose tobacco, means forfeeding vto-A`container to said collector, a shaping channel,a

beater associated with said shaping channel and means for feedingsaidtobacco in loose condition removed from saidl collector to said shapingchannel.

' 4. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar llers comprising a supplycontainer having an opening, l

at one side thereof, a collector above vwhich said opening extends,rotary means in said supply container for feeding loose tobacco towardsY said opening and into said collector, means for removfingpredetermined amounts of loosetobacco from said collector and ymeans forforming said removed portions of tobacco into a cigar ller.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco having an opening disposed at one sidethereof, a collector for loose tobacco disposed so asto receive thetobacco passing through said opening, means for removing predeterminedarnountsof tobacco from said collector, a rotary feeding means in saidsupply container for feeding said loose tobacco towards said opening,means forrregulating the,

amount of tobacco fed from said supply ycontainer and means for formingvsaid tobacco removed from said collector into a'cigar filler.

6. An apparatus for vmanufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco having an opening therein, a collectordisposed so as to receive tobacco passing through said opening, meansfor removing predetermined amounts of said tobacco from said collector,ro-

tary feeding means for the loose tobacco in said supply containeradapted` to feed said loose tobacco towards said opening, means forregulating said feeding means in said supply container and means forforming said tobacco. removed from said collector into a cigar ller.

7 An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising asupplycontainer for loose tobacco having an opening disposed at one sidethereof, a

collector positioned so as to receivey tobacco fed through said opening,means in said supply container for feeding loose ytobacco towards saidopening, meansassociated with said supply container `for agitatingy saidloose tobacco as said tobacco' is fed through ysaid opening, means forre.

moving predetermined amounts of tobacco from said collector and meansfor forming said loose tobacco into a, cigar filler.

8. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer having an opening at one side thereof, a collector positionedso as to receive tobacco when fed through said opening, means forremoving predetermined amounts .of tobacco from said collector,intermittently operated means in said supply container for feeding 1.

said loose tobacco through said opening, means associated with saidsupply container for breaking upV the tobacco as fed through saidopening and means forforming saidfloose tobacco removed from saidcollector into a cigar nller.

9. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco,`

means vforfeeding said loose tobacco from said supply `container inpredetermined amountsya collector to receive the tobacco lfed from saidcon'- tainer, means for separating from said tobacco in said collector apredetermined amount andr means for transferring said predeterminedamount to a cigar ller shaping mechanism.

l0. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar llers comprising a supplycontainer for loosev tobacco, a collector, means for feeding loosetobacco in predetermined'amounts from said supply container t'o saidcollector, reciprocating means associated with said collector forseparating from the tobacco in said collector` a Ypredetermined amountof loose tobacco, cigar ller shaping mechanism and means for removingsaid predetermined-amount of tobacco separated in sa-id collector tosaid shaping mechanism. l Y

l1.v An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a collector, means for feeding loose t0-bacco in predetermined amounts from said supply container to saidcollector, means for separating a predetermined amount of loose tobaccoin saidA collector, means for reciprocating said separating means, meansfor oscillating said separating means, a cigar iiller shaping mechanismand means for removing said predetermined amount of tobacco separated bysaid separating means to saidshaping mechanism.

12. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers vcomprising a'supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a fiexible collecting 'vessel locatedadjacent said supply container, means for feeding loose tobacco fromsaid supply container to said collector, a reciprocating separatingmechanism associated with said collecting vessel so as to separate apredetermined amount of tobacco from the loose tobacco in saidcollector, cigar filler shaping vmechanism andV means for removing saidseparated predetermined amount of tobac-A co from said collector to saidshaping mechanism.

13. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, means for feeding loose tobacco from saidsupply container, a collector adapted to receive theloose tobacco fromsaid supply container, a pneumatic separating mechanismassociated Withsaid collector for separating la predetermined amount of tobacco fromthe'loose tobacco in said collector, a cigar ller shaping mechanism. andmeans for removing said separated portion of tobacco from said collectorto said shaping mechanism.

14. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainerk for loose tobacco, means for feeding said loose tobacco fromsaid supply container, a collector for receiving tobacco fed from saidsupply container, means for removing a predetermined amo-unt of loosetobacco from said collector, means associated with said supply containerfor breaking up said tobacco as it is fed from said supply container tosaid collector, said last named means being operated by said removingmeans and means for shaping said removed tobacco from Said collectorintoa cigar iiller.

15. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar ll,,

ers comprising a supply container for loose tobacco, a collector adaptedto receive the tobacco fed from said supply container, means for feeding tobacco from-said supply container to saidV container.,v means forremoving .said separated portions of tobacco and means for forming thesame into a cigar ller.

136. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, radial plates disposed inV said container,means for rotating said radial plates so as to feedrsaid loosetobaccotin said container to a discharge opening, means associated withsaid container for breaking up said tobacco as it is fed through saiddischarge opening, a collector adapted to receive the tobacco from saidsupply container, means for separating and removing predeterminedamounts of tobacco from said collector and means for formingV saidlremoved tobacco into a cigark ller.

17. An apparatus for manufacturing vcigar fillers comprising supplycontainer forV loose tobacco, a collector, means` for feeding saidVloose tobacco from said container to said collector, means for removingpredetermined amounts of tobacco from said collector, means foroperating said removing means and said feeding means of said supplycontainer inA unison and means for forming said removed portions oftobacco into a cigar'llen 18. An' apparatus for manufacturing cigarfillers comprising supply container for loose tobacco having' an openingtherein, a rotary member located in said supply container, radial platesextending from said rotary member dividing said supply container into aseries of chambers of subsiantially equal capacity, means for rotatingsaid rotary member so as to discharge the contents of said chambersthrough said opening, a collector adapted to receive the tobacco asdischarged froml said opening, separating means associated with saidcollector for Separating predetermined amounts of tobacco from thetobacco in said collector, means for removing said separated portions oftobacco and means for forming said separated portions into a cigariiller.

19. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers Acomprising av supplycontainer for loose tobacco having an opening, ashaker rod upon saidcontainer acting at said" opening to separate further the loose tobacco,a collector adapted to receive theY tobacco from said supply container,pneumatic vremoving means for remo-ving a predetermined amount oftobacco from saidv collector, said removing means actuating said shakerrod and meansY for forming said removed tobacco into a cigarl filler.

20. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar llers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a collector of 'exible material into whichthe loose tobacco is fed from said container, reciprocating pneumaticmeansassociated with said collector for separating predetermined amountsof tobacco from the. tobacco in said collector, beaters associated withsaid iiexible collector operatedby the movements of said pneumaticseparating means, means for removing said separated portions of tobacco.and means for forming said separated portions into a cigar ller.

. 21. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, means for feeding tobacco from said supplycontainer, a collectoradapted to receive the tobacco fed from saidcontainer, the walls of said collector being formed` of, flexiblematerial, piv-` separating predetermined. amounts of tobacco.v

from the tobacco in said collector, said beaters being operated by thereciprocating motion of the separator, removing means for removing theseparated portions of tobacco and means for forming the separatedportions into a cigar iiller.

22. An apparatus'for manufacturing cigar fillers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a collector of flexible material locatedadjacent said container, means for feeding loose tobacco from saidcontainer to said collector, separating means associated with saidcollector for separating predetermined amounts of tobacco from thetobacco in said collector and means for agitating the tobacco in saidcollector operated by said separating means. V

23. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillerscomprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a collector for the loose tobacco, meansfor feeding loose tobacco from said container to said collector andmeans associated with said collector for separating predeterminedamounts of tobacco from the tobacco in said collector and forming thesame into a cigar filler.

24. An apparatus for manufacturingcigar llers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tobacco, a collector, means associated with said Ysaid container,

collector for removing predetermined portions of tobacco from saidcollector and forming the same into a cigar iillerv and means forfeeding tobacco from said container into said collector.

25. An apparatus for manufacturing cigar fillsoV ers comprising a supplycontainer for loose tov bacco, having an opening therein, rotary feedingmeans for feedingV loose tobacco in said supply container through saidopening, a flexible collector adapted. to receive the tobacco fed fromreciprocating and oscillating sepassociated with said collector forarating means separating predetermined amounts of loose to- 1 bacco;beaters for agitating the tobacco in said collector operated by saidseparating means, re-

moving means for removing the tobacco sepl arated, scraping meansadapted tocooperate with said removing means, a hopper adapted toreceive said removed tobacco, forming channels in which said tobacco isshaped into a cigar filler, beaters associated with said formingchannels for aligning said tobacco in said channels so that the shreds4of tobacco are disposed substantially longitudi' nally of the completedcigar filler before the compressing thereof. y FRANZ HEINRICH BENNOSTELZER.

